The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2011
Shahram Izadi, Cambridge, GB;
Malcolm Hall, Glasgow, GB;
Stephen Hodges, Cambridge, GB;
William A. S. Buxton, Toronto, CA;
David Alexander Butler, Redmond, WA (US);
Shahram Izadi, Cambridge, GB;
Malcolm Hall, Glasgow, GB;
Stephen Hodges, Cambridge, GB;
William A. S. Buxton, Toronto, CA;
David Alexander Butler, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is within close physical proximity. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface.